If you don't have the time to keep up with all the new music that's available - take heart, we've got the perfect solution.
Every week our music experts come in to talk about the best new tunes in one short segment. This week, Billboard's
and music journalist
join A Martinez with their top picks. To hear the full discussion click on the audio embedded above.
Leila's picks:
Manu Chao, the no-borders French singer/songwriter who became known as the harbinger of Spanish, world fusion in the 1990s. Manu Chao had massive global success with his 1998 album Clandestino, or Clandestine.
He hasn’t released an album since 2007’s Radiolina. But last week, he broke his musical silence offering fans three free songs that you can download on his website.
The song, “No solo en China hay future” (There’s Future Beyond China), is all about acting locally and doing good, all to set to feel-cool reggae beat and a kind of norteño accordion.
The second selection is a big departure for him - its the track “Moonlight Avenue,” - sung in English written with Greek actress Klelia Renesi.
Leila also suggested new music by Spanish singer-songwriter Melendi. You may not know his name but in Spain, Melendi is a big star, and at 38 years old has the top selling album in the country right now. He’s a pop star, plays a mix of singer/songwriter fare with touches of flamenco and Latin American beats.
This album is called “Quítate las gafas” (Take Off Your Glasses), and the track “Desde que estamos juntos,” is kind of mix of pop and Cuban trova.
Justino's picks:
The band, Jesse and Joy, are siblings born in Mexico, who began seriously writing songs in 2001, when they were 18 and 15. Their new album, Jesse and Joy, is sort of new territory for them - their first bilingual project.
But their late father is Mexican and their mother is American, so they grew up in a very bilingual setting and mastered both languages ... so its a natural step.
Justino's first selection is the single, More Than Amigos, here's an acoustic version:
And here's a live performance where they showcase both the Spanish and English versions of their song, Helpless/Dueles:
His next selection is from the band, Buscabulla and their new album, EP II. Raquel Berrios and Luis del Vall are Buscabulla. They were born and raised in Puerto Rico and eventually moved to New York City.
In 2014 they released their self-titled EP (produced by Dev Hynes of Blood Orange on Kitsuné). Their second EP II was self-released in January 2017 via Baby Making Records. Here's the song, Frio.